This auction is for my trusty old bike. I bought this with paper route money in 1966. I scouted out all the best bikes and decided to go for the very best. I wanted a Schwinn Varsity in red. Maybe green if they didn’t have red. So I get to the bike shop and there on the rack was a Schwinn Varsity – green. Hmmmm. No red and they told me it would take a couple weeks. I was 15 years old. I couldn’t wait a couple weeks. Next to it was a very pretty red bike for $5 more. Never heard of it but I bought it anyway. The store told me later that it was on sale because that the company that made the bike – Rudge – had stopped making bikes or something like that. The bike is labeled Rudge on the nameplate with Sun decals on the frame. I guess that makes this Rudge’s Sun model.
Over the years I customized and replaced pieces. I was into riding not preserving so I bought good components not original equipment. The crank set was held together with cotter pins and they kept loosening and breaking and I couldn’t get new cotter pins that were the right size. So I bought a Stronglight crank set. The frame is Reynolds 531 tubing with nice double butted connections and all original paint and decals. The brakes are Weinmann center pull with all original calipers but new pads. There is even the original rubber sleeve on the brake housing that says Sun. The headset and handlebar post is original and it looks like the stem was special made for this bike. I believe most everything else has been replaced. The original had little 12” long chrome fenders that I replaced with full fenders. There is a small chance that I may still have the originals. If so I will add those but I believe they are long gone. The original Leather Brooks seat was replaced with something more comfortable. The Huret derailleurs were replaced with Campognola Veloce. The handlebars were switched to a Cinelli that I could use with end shifters. It has 28" wheels with Continental 28-630 tires with Shimano hubs and Araya rims. Hopefully the pictures will explain it better. If you need further information let me know.
The bike still rides like a dream. I have had several other bikes through the years but those would only last a couple rides before I switched back to the Rudge. After 50 years of riding this cruise machine, I have decided to pass it on to someone who will treat it with respect for a great old machine. Due to older age and subsequent ailments my riding days are dwindling so I thought I would try to get this bike in the right hands. All I ask of the new owner is to treat her with respect.
Here is a blurb from another online site about Rudge Bicycles:
Certainly one of the prominent makers of the classic British era...Eventually bought by and finally retired by Raleigh, the Rudge name none-the-less takes a rightfully prominent spot in England's cycling history.
"Dan Rudge built the first Rudge High bicycles in 1870. In 1894 it merged with the Whitworth Cycle Co to form Rudge-Whitworth. They made an excellent reputation for themselves over the next twenty years for producing a full range of beautifully made machines with many clever and unique features and ridden by King George V and family. Their road racers were widely used and they diversified into motorcycles in the early 20th century. In 1935 they were bought by EMI (the record company) and under Jack Lauterwasser¹s direction produced some superb top end racers as well as more mundane machines. EMI however soon decided that cycles were not for them and Rudge was sold to Raleigh in 1943. Raleigh had acquired Humber in 1933 and were to acquire many others after WWII and soon used the Rudge name to badge engineer what were essentially Raleigh machines with Rudge pattern fork crown and chainwheel. Hence there were Rudge versions of the Lenton and of the Clubmen. The name was finally killed sometime I think in the early 60s in Britain but may well have been used in export markets later. In Britain the name used on rebadged Montague folders in about 1989."
Measurements:
Seat Tube (center to center): 23"
Top Tube (center to center): 22"
Serial #2773184
I will accept Paypal only and will ship only to the continental US to bidders with at least 10 positive feedbacks. If you do not meet these requirements please contact me prior to bidding. I will not provide rates for international shipping.
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